Evaluating Three-Pillar Sustainability Modelling Approaches for Dairy Cattle Production Systems

Abstract

Milk production in Europe is facing major challenges to ensure its economic, environmental, and social sustainability. It is essential that holistic concepts are developed to ensure the future sustainability of the sector and to assist farmers and stakeholders in making knowledge-based decisions. In this study, integrated sustainability assessment by means of whole-farm modelling is presented as a valuable approach for identifying factors and mechanisms that could be used to improve the three pillars (3Ps) of sustainability in the context of an increasing awareness of economic profitability, social well-being, and environmental impacts of dairy production systems (DPS). This work aims (i) to create an evaluation framework that enables quantitative analysis of the level of integration of 3P sustainability indicators in whole-farm models and (ii) to test this method. Therefore, an evaluation framework consisting of 35 indicators distributed across the 3Ps of sustainability was used to evaluate three whole-farm models. Overall, the models integrated at least 40% of the proposed indicators. Different results were obtained for each sustainability pillar by each evaluated model. Higher scores were obtained for the environmental pillar, followed by the economic and the social pillars. In conclusion, this evaluation framework was found to be an effective tool that allows potential users to choose among whole-farm models depending on their needs. Pathways for further model development that may be used to integrate the 3P sustainability assessment of DPS in a more complete and detailed way were identified.

Implementation of Technical and Technological Progress in Dairy Production

“…The dairy production system and its evaluation are sustainability issues encompassing three pillars, i.e., economic, environmental, and social [12]. The growing importance attached to the economic profitability, social welfare, and environmental impact of dairy production systems is an incentive to search for research tools for modeling considerations [13]. The link between dairy production and sustainability and modeling is demonstrated, for example, by the SIMSDAIRY (sustainable and integrated management systems for dairy production) model [14].…”

“…A characteristic feature of the formulated models of dairy farms and dairy production systems is the selection of a set of parameters (indicators); these are measurable, calculated, and descriptive indicators, classified as economic, social, and environmental categories that make up the three pillars of sustainable dairy production [13]. In practice, the concept of technical indicators is also used [28], which generally cover a broad set of factors, depending on the scope of the analysis.…”

Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Engineering: Products, Services, Technologies, and Social Inclusivity with a Gender Approach

“…Regarding social sustainability, two studies show how it is possible to carry out successful projects such as helping livestock farmers through modernization, the first for milk production in Europe [32] and the second to bring electricity to rural sectors; these projects can be carried out considering non-governmental approaches [30]. Based on another article from small-scale agri-food farms, this one shows that communicating sustainability is challenging when local food production is not well supported [47].…”

The Topic of the Ideal Dairy Farm Can Inspire How to Assess Knowledge about Dairy Production Processes: A Case Study with Students and Their Contributions

“…Building a vision of an ideal dairy farm, premises are created for comparison with this vision of the current state of dairy farms. In this way, it will be possible to indicate the scope of tasks to be performed that will improve the existing dairy farms and their development in line with the idea of the three pillars of sustainability [68]. The vision of an ideal dairy farm is built on the basis of numerous studies, including the opinions of various social groups, not only people directly involved in dairy production, but also other consumers.…”